Dr. Sam Bhayani practices urology (urinary tract disease). His average patient rating is 5.0 stars out of 5. Clinical interests for Dr. Bhayani include kidney cancer, robotic surgery, and prostate cancer. Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Bhayani accepts. Before completing his residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Dr. Bhayani attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. He is professionally affiliated with Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Washington University Physicians, and St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Dr. Ramakrishna Venkatesh's area of specialization is urology (urinary tract disease). After completing medical school at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and Bangalore University, Dr. Venkatesh performed his residency at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. He is in-network for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and more. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Christian Hospital, and Lexington VA Medical Center.

Dr. Robert Figenshau's specialties are urologic oncology, surgical oncology (cancer surgery), and pediatric urology. Clinical interests for Dr. Figenshau include bladder cancer and minimally invasive surgery. His professional affiliations include Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Washington University Physicians, and Progress West Hospital. He obtained his medical school training at the University of Minnesota Medical School and performed his residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He takes Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry, in addition to other insurance carriers.

Dr. Alana Desai is an urology (urinary tract disease) specialist in Saint Louis, MO and Creve Coeur, MO. Dr. Desai is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine. Her training includes a residency program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Desai takes. She is professionally affiliated with Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Washington University Physicians, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Dr. Keith Hruska is a Saint Louis, MO physician who specializes in pediatric nephrology (kidney disease) and adult transplant hepatology. He is affiliated with Washington University Physicians, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Dr. Hruska accepts several insurance carriers, including Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry. His education and training includes medical school at Creighton University School of Medicine and residency at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.

Dr. Anitha Vijayan works as a nephrologist in Saint Louis, MO and Creve Coeur, MO. Her professional affiliations include Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, Washington University Physicians, and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Dr. Vijayan attended medical school at the University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences. For her residency, Dr. Vijayan trained at Princess Margaret Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital, St. Louis. She is in-network for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Coventry, as well as other insurance carriers.

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What are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form in the kidneys, made up of minerals that are normally present in urine. They can vary in size, from as small as a grain of sand to as large as a nickel, occasionally even larger. Sometimes they lodge in the kidney, and sometimes they break free and make their way out through the urinary tract, which can be extremely painful.

Kidney stones can be smooth or jagged and are yellow to brown in color. They are mostly comprised of the minerals calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus. Examining the stones to see what they are made of can show what caused the stone to be formed in the first place. For example, a stone made of mostly calcium, which is the most common type, can happen any time the urine becomes too concentrated due to dehydration or a blockage in the kidney. A uric acid stone forms when acid levels in the urine get too high, usually due to excessive consumption of animal protein such as meat and fish. A struvite stone is a sign of certain infections, and a cystine stone can be due to a genetic disorder that raises the risk of kidney stones.

The most common symptom of kidney stones is pain, either in the back or lower abdomen, or severe pain when urinating. There may also be blood in the urine. Treatment for kidney stones depends on how large the stone is. Very small stones can pass out of the body on their own, and they do not require treatment other than drinking adequate water and taking pain killers. Larger stones need to be broken apart and removed. The main treatment options are:

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy, or the use of a very tiny tool (like a wire inserted through the back) to break apart and remove the stone

Ureteroscopy, a thin tube inserted through the urethra and bladder to the stone, where tiny tools can grasp the stone and remove it

People who have had one kidney stone are at risk of developing another. To reduce this risk, patients are given instructions specific to the type of stone they developed. Generally the instructions will include drinking more water to dilute the urine, but it may also involve lowering sodium intake or eating less meat.